Igor V. Babailov

Master portrait and figurative artist, teacher, and spokesperson for the traditional school of classical realism, renowned artist Igor V. Babailov is a recipient of national and international competitions' awards and honors and is a graduate of the acclaimed Surikov Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia.

A Master of Fine Arts, he has a strong belief in the Eternal Values offered by the artists of the Renaissance, which are Love and Respect for God's Creation, Appreciation of Life's Harmony and Beauty without alterations, a knowledge of Anatomy, Perspective, Composition, Painting and Drawing Methods, and a must of the Drawing Skill, based on that Knowledge. Mr. Babailov says: "I love the life that surrounds me. I respect its history, and I admire its future. To preserve it for our descendants the way it is, in its truth and beauty, is my duty and my goal as an artist."

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Babailov has painted numerous portraits of social, business and political elite. Recent notable commissions include portraits of the President of The United States of America, President George W. Bush, The President of Russia, President V. Putin, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and Nelson Mandela. Painting multi-figured murals are traditionally recognized as the highest achievement of the artistic expertise. Mr. Babailov's uniqueness as an artist is evident in his large-scale mural-size works such as the historical painting of the Columbus voyage to the Americas which received national and international acclaim and which was featured in a number of magazines and publications. He is currently working on a large mural entitled "Who Has to Suffer ... and Why?", a multi-figured composition dedicated to the children - the future of humanity. He is author and director of an international historical panorama project, presently underway.

In 1996, he organized the first official delegation of North American artists to Russia in conjunction with the Russian Duma and the Union of Artists and recently taught at the prestigious Florence Academy of Art. Last year, the Russian government published a book on his life and works and a North American book is in progress. His portrait studio is in Long Island, New York.